New York
Brendán Murphy
Senior Partner, Global Creative Director


A native of Dublin, Ireland, Brendán has over 30 years’ experience (most spent at Lippincott) in visual and verbal design.
While his brand work is a staple of everyday consumer life, perhaps most iconic is his design of the universal access symbol for the sight, hearing and physically-impaired, now used by cities and organizations around the world.
- How many years have you been at Lippincott?
I’m in my 23rd year.
- In your own words, what do you do at Lippincott?
Draw, write, inspire, invent, collaborate, learn.
- Which projects have been the most meaningful to you?
Designing the universal access symbol to redefine how people look at each other and at the world. Close second would be writing and illustrating my first book, “Ready for School, Murphy?” for my kids and their kids. (Published by Disney-Hyperion in 2015)
Being a Lippincott’er means rigor of thought and execution, being a student of life and business.
- What’s your favorite thing about the place you call home?
Family. Literature. Rain. Honesty. Humility. Music.
- Do you have a mantra or a favorite quote?
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
— George Bernard Shaw- What did school actually teach you?
Humility, curiosity and of course the craft.
- Who has influenced you most in your career?
All the people who took a chance on me, including my wife.
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Education
M.Des, University of Cincinnati
B.S. Printing Technology, Pittsburg State University
National College of Art and Design, DublinWork Experience
Siegel & Gale
CSACareer Achievements
Designed symbol of access (wheelchair symbol) now in use throughout the world. Wrote and illustrated children’s picture book published by Disney. Ran cross country for Ireland.
Connect
LinkedIn
Insights
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Design Doing
Over the last 70 years of design here at Lippincott, we’ve learned that the doing is just as important as the thinking. In this piece, we lay out the precepts and principles of the craft itself — the meticulous exercise of converting strategies to beautiful, simple and meaningful work.